The 2008-2009 NBA regular season schedule has reached the 1/4 pole, as all 30 teams have played at least 20 games. Given the history of this league and …
… it is helpful to evaluate where they rank against one another at this juncture.
QUALITY RATING & QUALITY INDEX RANKING
NBA 2008-2009 [as of Mon Dec 15 2008]
Team
W/L
Win%
PDR
PAR
RDR
QR
QIR
EC
WC
Cavaliers
20/4
.833
1
1
3
5
1
2
Celtics
23/2
.920
3
2
1
6
2
1
Hornets
13/7
.650
6
3
10
19
3
4
Blazers
15/10
.600
10
9
1
20
T-4
7
Rockets
15/9
.625
8
5
7
20
T-4
5
Lakers
20/3
.870
2
14
6
22
6
1
Spurs
15/8
.652
7
6
11
24
7
3
76ers
10/14
.417
16
8
4
28
11
Jazz
15/11
.577
9
11
9
29
8
8
Mavericks
13/10
.625
11
16
7
34
9
Nuggets
17/7
.708
4
15
16
35
9
2
Hawks
15/9
.625
12
7
17
36
10
4
Magic
19/6
.760
5
10
24
39
11
3
Bucks
11/15
.423
18
17
5
40
10
Pistons
13/9
.591
14
12
22
48
12
5
Suns
15/10
.600
13
22
14
49
13
6
Bobcats
7/18
.280
24
4
22
50
14
Heat
12/12
.500
15
13
25
53
14
7
Nets
12/11
.522
20
24
12
56
15
6
Bulls
11/12
.478
17
21
18
56
16
8
Pacers
8/16
.333
21
25
13
59
13
Grizzlies
9/15
.375
22
18
19
59
10
Timberwolves
4/20
.167
28
23
14
65
14
Clippers
6/17
.261
25
19
25
69
13
Raptors
10/14
.417
23
20
30
73
12
Thunder
2/23
.080
30
26
20
76
15
Knicks
11/13
.458
19
29
28
76
9
Kings
7/18
.280
29
28
20
77
11
Wizards
4/18
.182
27
27
27
81
15
Warriors
7/18
.261
26
30
29
85
12
Legend: W-L – Won Loss Record; Win% - Winning Percentage; PDR – Points Differential Rank; PAR – Points Allowed Rank; RDR – Rebound Differential Rank; QR – Quality Rating; QIR – Quality Index Ranking; EC – Eastern Conference Playoff Position; WC – Western Conference Playoff Position
Note: 1. Since 2000-2001 each NBA Champion and Finalist has had a QR ≤ 34.
2. Since 2000-2001 each NBA Champion has had a QIR ≤ #9.
3. Since 2000-2001 7 of the 8 NBA Champions have had a QIR ≤ #4.
Take note of where your favourite team stands today … and where it will need to get to, over the course of the next five months, in order to be considered a legit contender for the 2009 NBA Championship.
The NBA’s regular season schedule is now in full swing with each team having played a minimum of 13 games.
As was mentioned earlier in this space, there are three tiers of teams in this League that reveal themselves on an annual basis:
1. HIGH END [above a .549 Win %]
2. MIDDLE-of-the-Pack [between a .450-.549 Win %]
3. LOW END [below a .450 Win %]
At this point, here’s what each team’s W-L record is, in conjunction with their respective Rebounding Differential Ranking [which regular readers here know is a crucial factor towards playoff success]:
HIGH END
1 LA Lakers 12-1/.923; +5.00/#3 2 Boston 14-2/.875; +3.43/#7
3 Cleveland 12-3/.750; +4.33/#5 4 Phoenix 11-5/.688; -0.25/#14 T5 Detroit 9-5/.643; +0.92/#11 T5 Atlanta 9-5/.643; -0.42/#16
T5 Orlando 12-4/.643; -0.37/#15 T5 New Orleans 9-5/.643; +0.07/#13
T9 Utah 10-6/.625; +3.50/#6
T9 Portland 10-6/.625; +4.37/#4
T9 Houston 10-6/.625; +2.06/#9 T9 Denver 10-6/.625; -0.43/#17
13 San Antonio 8-6/.571; -2.28/#24 *
MIDDLE
T14 Dallas 7-7/.500; +3.07/#8
T14 New Jersey 7-7/.500; +0.21/#12
T14 Toronto 7-7/.500; -2.14/#23
T17 Miami 7-8/.467; -5.26/#28
T17 Philadelphia 6-7/.467; +6.33/#1
T17 New York 7-8/.467; -7.20/#30
LOW END
20 Chicago 7-9/.438; -1.31/#19
21 Indiana 6-8/.429; +1.00/#10
22 Milwaukee 7-10/.412; +5.58/#2
23 Golden State 5-10/.333; -3.20/#26
24 Sacramento 5-12/.294; -1.64/#20
25 Memphis 4-11/.267; -2.40/#25
26 Charlotte 4-10/.286; -2.07/#22
27 Minnesota 3-10/.231; -1.30/#18
28 Washington 2-11/.154; -3.46/#27
29 LA Clippers/2-13/.133; -5.53/#29
30 Oklahoma City 1-15/.063; -1.81/#21
* Have played mostly without Ginobili-M and Parker-T, thus far.
When this corner of the sports blogosphere told you earlier this fall/summer that the Raptors trade for Jermaine O’Neal was not going to be enough, by itself, to fundamentally improve Toronto’s Rebounding Deficiency from the last few seasons there were boatloads of delusional fans some who did not want to believe this specific assessment of this team, in advance of actually seeing real live NBA games this season with their own two eyes.
—————–
How could the acquisition of a former 6-time NBA All-Star …
in exchange for a smallish, erractic [but talented] Point Guard [i.e. TJ Ford], an over-the-hill, lumbering, strictly speaking part-time Center [i.e. Rasho Nesterovic], the 15th player from their roster last season [i.e. Maceo Baston], and a flip-flop of the No. 17 [overall] and No. 41 Draft Picks from the 2008 NBA Draft, who turned out to be Roy Hibbert [C] and Nathan Jawai [C], respectively …
possibly NOT improve the Raptors decidely mediocre rebounding numbers from the last few years in any significant way, shape or form?
—————–
Well … as of Thursday, November 6, 2008 the Basketball Acumen of this specific correspondent seems to be as sharp [and accurate] as ever:
When a certain NBA observer tells you something about ‘How the Game actually Works in this League’, in advance … it might well be in your best interests to believe what this person has to say, even though you are not able to fully comprehend it, at that point in time.
—————–
“The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” – Anonymous
1 Los Angeles Lakers [W1] … A Legendary season awaits
2 Boston Celtics [E1] … Still the Champs
3 Detroit Pistons [E2] … Bad Boyz II, under MC [Hammer]
4 Phoenix Suns [W2] … Sunrise, Sunset, under TP
5 Utah Jazz [W3] … Tried & True
6 Houston Rockets [W4] … Combustible on any given night
7 Dallas Mavericks [W5] … letting Freedom Reign, under RC
8 Orlando Magic [E3] … holding strong with new additions
9 New Orleans Hornets [W6] … due for a small slip backwards
10 Portland Trail Blazers [W7] … The 2nd Coming begins
11 Cleveland Cavaliers [E4] … The King is in the house
12 Philadelphia 76ers [E5] … major moves this off-season
13 San Antonio Spurs [W8] … a struggle without Manu
14 Denver Nuggets [W9] … re-tooling their defense
15 Chicago Bulls [E6] … expect big things from VDN & ‘Mr. Rose’
The NBA’s pre-season schedulae of games is rapidly coming to a close.
In general, how a team fares in its pre-season games … in this League, at least … provides a preliminary indication of where it actually stands, relative to the competition, heading into the new campaign.
Annually, there are three major categories of teams in the NBA:
what you see, with only 4 days left, is generally speaking fairly representative of what you should now expect to get over the course of the 82-game regular season from these teams, in a broad sense.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Above .549 Orlando, Detroit, Boston, Atlanta, Philadelphia
.450-.549 Indiana, New York, Toronto
Below .450 Chicago, New Jersey, Washington [playing without Arenas], Cleveland [playing few minutes with LBJ] , Miami, Milwaukee, Charlotte
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Above .549 New Orleans, Minnesota, Denver, Houston, LA Lakers, Phoenix, Golden State, LA Clippers, Portland, Utah
.450-.549 Dallas, San Antonio [playing with Ginobili]
Below .450 Memphis, Oklahoma City, Sacramento
——————————————-
Although it’s not uncommon for a team to shift from the High End to the Middle over the course of the regular season; it is rare for a team to move from the High End to the Low End … and vice versa … once the regular season starts unless, of course, it has to play [or is playing currently] without 1 or more of its marquee players for an extending number of games.
What is usually the most interesting thing to see, however, over the course of the 82-game regular season, is which few teams are able to elevate their performance (i) from the Middle into the High End, and (ii) from the Low End into the Middle … automatically making them one of the ‘Feel Good’ stories of the year; and, which few teams, if any, will go in the opposite direction … automatically making them one of the ‘Biggest Disappointment’ stories.
Into which specific category does it look as though your favourite team is going to fit this season?
High End now that stays in the High End
High End now that drops down into the Middle
Middle now that steps up into the High End
Middle now that stays in the Middle
Middle now that drops down into the Low End
Low End now that steps up into the Middle
Low End now that stays in the Low End
as, given these results for the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery …
this team SHOULD now be back in business, in a BIG Way … fast.
==========================================
Who was the saddest looking man in Secaucus (NJ) last night?
He who shoulda waited two more weeks … before signing his contract to become the next head coach for the New York Knicks.
(watch that vid-clip again, beginning at the 1:00 minute mark, when the Charlotte Bobcats were announced with the #9 selection, and check out his ‘reaction’ for yourself, at the 1:32 mark)
Billy Donovan was allowed a Do Over last year … why not Mike D’Antoni?
Q1. When the Code by which you live is, “Run, Run, Run …“, how can you possibly hope to respond … during times of hardship … with steadfastness?
A1. In all likelihood … you can’t.
———————————-
After an oftentimes spectacular 4+ years at the helm of the Phoenix Suns, head coach, Mike D’Antoni seems as though he will soon be moving on to - what he hopes will be – greener pastures.
In a searing indictment of all that’s at the root of the Basketball Philosophy, ‘Seven Seconds or Less‘ (Jack McCallum), Adrian Wojnarowski (Yahoo! Sports) explains the how’s & why’s.
A1. Ben Gordon (PG), Thabo Sefolosha (OG), Nocioni (SF), Gooden (PF), Joakim Noah (C), Larry Hughes (G/F), Luol Deng (F), Tyrus Thomas (PF/C), Gray (C) and either Duhon (PG) or Hinrich (PG).
from the 05:39 mark of the 1st Quarter, when Ben Gordon (playing at the PG spot) subs in for Kirk Hinrich (CHI 10, Uta 14) … to the 10:11 mark of the 2nd Quarter, when Hinrich subs back in for Thabo Sefolosha (CHI 31, Uta 23) …
The ‘game ball’ is now firmly in the hands of John Paxson/GM.
If … he makes the right choice, re: the next head coach in Chicago … LOOK OUT! … Da Bulls will be back in business, in a major way, as ‘PrimeTime Contendas’ in the East for the next decade.
Interesting quotes from this evening’s TNT broadcast:
(during Game 1, Cle @ Chi)
“Cleveland is in trouble.”
- Sir Charles (Barkley) … during ’At the Half’, with the Cavaliers up by 4 pts (Cle 51, Chi 47) and Lebron having already scored 26 pts.
“It ends tonight.”
- Charles Barkley … during ‘At the Half’ of Game 1 (Cle @ Chi), re: the Houston Rockets’ team record 16-game winning streak.
“He’s never been a Champion … but he’s always been a Winner.”
- Doug Collins … re: Joe Smith, early in the 4th Quarter of Cleveland’s eventual loss at Chicago.
“The game in the NBA … is a game of match-ups.” - Doug Collins … explaining in simple, succinct terms what’s ‘at the Heart’ of understanding how it works in the world’s best ‘pro’ hoops league.
UPDATE:
(following Game 2, Hou @ Dal)
“Sam understands that you can’t compete with your teammate. You can only bolster him and push him.” - Kenny (the Jet) Smith … explaing some of what he shared with Sam-I-Am-Cassell, ‘lo those many moons ago’ with the Champion Houston Rockets
“He might not win the game … but, he won’t lose it for you …” - Kenny Smith … extolling some of Cassell’s value to the Boston Celtics.v.2008
Watching the debacle that was the Bulls’ meltdown in the final 6 minutes of their recent game @ Cleveland (Mar 2) … what was on display by Jim Boylan (& staff) … as far as his decision-making was concerned, re: his use of Tyrus Thomas (or lackthereof) … was completely SHOCKING.
When the Bulls had Thomas (+5, in 24+ MP) on the floor they were a totally different team compared to when he was shackled to the bench (i.e. every other Bull finished as a minus).
was THE reason Chicago lost this contest by 9 points …
in conjunction with his ridiculous decision to replace Ben Gordon with Kirk Hinrich at the 02:37 mark … Cle 85, Chi 83 … after which the Bulls lost contact with the Cavs for good.
When an NBA head coach cannot see that a player is making a ‘positive difference’ for his team’s on-court performance and instead decides to discipline/punish/marginalize/etc. that specific player for his own personal reasons … that cost his team W’s … it’s a major problem … in this case, for the Bulls.
Chicago now has enough 1st-class NBA talent to challenge for a playoff spot this season … and, for the next decade, as well, with a few minor tweaks of their roster this off-season …
